There’s no need to hit the panic button, Mets fans.
Sure, Edwin Diaz didn’t look great and allowed three runs in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to the Miami Marlins — forcing manager Carlos Mendoza to yank him after 30 pitches and two outs — but after the game the skipper said he isn’t worried about his closer who was routinely in the 92-96 mph range on his fastball.
“As far as health wise, no concern at all,” Mendoza said.
Not as windy as Tuesday’s game, the series finale was still no walk in the park with temperatures in the mid 40s throughout. Mendoza pointed to the cold as a possible reason for Diaz’s decrease in velocity, saying it can be difficult for some pitchers to get fully loose.
“They’re trying to have a feel for the strike zone and that’s an adjustment there,” Mendoza said. “We saw it with [Huascar] Brazoban I think yesterday and today; we saw it with Diaz today. Even [Tylor] Megill, early on his velo was a little bit down… But that’s part of it and we just gotta do a better job of finding a way.”
Not to mention, the situation.
Even though Diaz entered the game with his team down just two runs and still very much in it for a potential win, it wasn’t a save opportunity that the electric right-hander is used to.
Did the Mets expect Diaz to put up a zero to give themselves the best chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning? Surely. But the only reason Diaz actually went into the game was to get some work in before Thursday’s off day and having not pitched since Sunday.
Still, Mendoza admitted it felt weird having to replace his closer in the middle of an inning.
“I just wanted to make sure he was fine physically,” Mendoza said about Diaz. “That was the first thing I asked when I got to the mound and he was fine. Yeah it is weird [taking him out], but where we were at in the game I thought it was enough for him.”
Wednesday’s performance by Diaz wasn’t good. But it’s not a cause for concern or a sign of things to come. It was just a closer coming into a non-save opportunity in sub-50 degree temperature.
“We’ve seen it at times with him, but then he’s got the ability to come right back and execute three perfect pitches,” Mendoza said. “Sometimes he’s gonna let one go or he’s gonna bounce one, but we’ve seen it where he finds it before we know it he’s thrown six nasty sliders or fastballs in a row. That’s who he is.”
There’s no need to hit the panic button, Mets fans.
Sure, Edwin Diaz didn’t look great and allowed three runs in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to the Miami Marlins — forcing manager Carlos Mendoza to yank him after 30 pitches and two outs — but after the game the skipper said he isn’t worried about his closer who was routinely in the 92-96 mph range on his fastball.
“As far as health wise, no concern at all,” Mendoza said.
Not as windy as Tuesday’s game, the series finale was still no walk in the park with temperatures in the mid 40s throughout. Mendoza pointed to the cold as a possible reason for Diaz’s decrease in velocity, saying it can be difficult for some pitchers to get fully loose.
“They’re trying to have a feel for the strike zone and that’s an adjustment there,” Mendoza said. “We saw it with [Huascar] Brazoban I think yesterday and today; we saw it with Diaz today. Even [Tylor] Megill, early on his velo was a little bit down… But that’s part of it and we just gotta do a better job of finding a way.”
Not to mention, the situation.
Even though Diaz entered the game with his team down just two runs and still very much in it for a potential win, it wasn’t a save opportunity that the electric right-hander is used to.
Did the Mets expect Diaz to put up a zero to give themselves the best chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning? Surely. But the only reason Diaz actually went into the game was to get some work in before Thursday’s off day and having not pitched since Sunday.
Still, Mendoza admitted it felt weird having to replace his closer in the middle of an inning.
“I just wanted to make sure he was fine physically,” Mendoza said about Diaz. “That was the first thing I asked when I got to the mound and he was fine. Yeah it is weird [taking him out], but where we were at in the game I thought it was enough for him.”
Wednesday’s performance by Diaz wasn’t good. But it’s not a cause for concern or a sign of things to come. It was just a closer coming into a non-save opportunity in sub-50 degree temperature.
“We’ve seen it at times with him, but then he’s got the ability to come right back and execute three perfect pitches,” Mendoza said. “Sometimes he’s gonna let one go or he’s gonna bounce one, but we’ve seen it where he finds it before we know it he’s thrown six nasty sliders or fastballs in a row. That’s who he is.”
